Top Laravel Forge Alternatives for Streamlined Server Management

Laravel Forge is an exceptional tool that has revolutionized how developers deploy and manage their Laravel applications. It takes away many of the pain points associated with server provisioning, deployment, and maintenance, allowing developers to focus on what they do best: writing code. Features like setting up SSH keys, deploying from GitHub, configuring cron jobs, and managing SSL certificates make it an invaluable asset. However, depending on your specific needs, budget, or preferred ecosystem, you might be looking for a reliable Laravel Forge alternative. This guide explores some of the best options available to help you find the perfect fit for your server management needs.

Best Laravel Forge Alternatives

While Laravel Forge offers a fantastic all-in-one solution, numerous other platforms and tools provide similar functionalities, sometimes with unique advantages. Whether you're seeking a more cost-effective option, a self-hosted solution, or something tailored to a different tech stack, these alternatives offer compelling features for managing your web servers and applications.

cPanel

cPanel is a widely recognized commercial control panel for web hosting, primarily for Linux servers. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing websites, emails, databases, and more, making it a robust Laravel Forge alternative for those who prefer a self-hosted solution with extensive features like file management, PHP configuration, and robust web server management.

Ajenti

Ajenti is a free and open-source web-based administration panel designed for Linux VPS and dedicated servers. It's a great Laravel Forge alternative if you're looking for a self-hosted, open-source solution for server management, offering features like shared folders and extensibility through plugins.

ServerPilot.io

ServerPilot.io is a commercial server management platform specifically designed for hosting PHP sites, including WordPress, on various cloud providers like DigitalOcean and Linode. It serves as an excellent Laravel Forge alternative, focusing on PHP optimization with Nginx, Python, and robust database support, ideal for cloud-based deployments.

CyberPanel

CyberPanel is an open-source web hosting control panel based on OpenLiteSpeed, providing built-in support for DNS, FTP, email, and automatic SSL. As a freemium and self-hosted Laravel Forge alternative for Linux, it excels in configuration and server management, offering a robust solution for web hosting needs.

RunCloud

RunCloud is a SaaS server manager for PHP servers, provisioning your server with optimized settings. It's a strong freemium Laravel Forge alternative for Linux, offering features like automatic updates, free SSL, MariaDB, Nginx, PHP-FPM, and real-time performance monitoring, making it a comprehensive server management solution.

Ploi.io

Ploi.io is a freemium platform designed for quick and easy site deployments with a great UI. It offers automatic backups, load balancing, and is security-focused. Ploi.io, based on Laravel itself, is an excellent Laravel Forge alternative for those seeking fast provisioning and an intuitive experience across various operating systems like Mac, Windows, and Linux.

ZesleCP

ZesleCP is a secure, fast, and easy-to-use web control panel for Linux and Ubuntu. This freemium, self-hosted Laravel Forge alternative offers extensive features like SSH user creation, cron job monitoring, custom DNS, database management, FTP support, free SSL, and unlimited domains, making it a comprehensive solution for web hosting and server management.

Moss (By Doalitic)

Moss (By Doalitic) is a freemium web-based tool for deploying, managing, and monitoring servers and sites securely. It's an excellent Laravel Forge alternative for developers, focusing on security, Nginx, performance monitoring, auto updates, and automated deployment for Linux and PHP, with integrations for GitHub, Bitbucket, and Slack.

CentminMod

CentminMod is a free and open-source LEMP stack auto installer for CentOS. It provides SSH-based menu management for Nginx HTTP/2 HTTPS, MariaDB, PHP-FPM, and CSF Firewall. As a self-hosted Laravel Forge alternative, it's ideal for those seeking a highly optimized, open-source solution for Linux server management and web hosting.

OVIPanel

OVIPanel is a commercial, self-hosted control panel for web hosting on Linux. It emphasizes enhanced security with mod-security, Nginx support, Webalizer stats, a built-in file manager, and multi-database support. OVIPanel serves as a simplified yet feature-rich Laravel Forge alternative for managing your web hosting features.

Choosing the best Laravel Forge alternative depends heavily on your specific requirements, technical expertise, and budget. Whether you prioritize open-source flexibility, comprehensive commercial features, or a specialized focus on PHP, the options above offer robust solutions for managing your servers and deploying your applications efficiently. Explore each one to find the perfect fit for your development and hosting workflow.